Boat vs. plane

AUG. 23 — A Connecticut man was arrested Aug. 20 for repeatedly swerving his boat in front of a floatplane attempting to take off from Bantam (Conn.) Lake, and for interfering with police.

Officers with the Department of Environmental Protection’s State Environmental Conservation Police arrested the man, who is 45 and of Morris, on two counts of risk of injury to a minor, three counts of reckless endangerment in the second degree, three counts of reckless boating in the second degree and for resisting arrest, the DEP reports in a news release.

The floatplane, owned and piloted by a Winsted, Conn., resident, landed on BantamLakeAug. 4 to pick up two young female campers from CampHope for a ride, the release states. As the plane attempted to take off, the Morris man pulled his boat in front of the craft and stopped, causing the pilot to abort the takeoff.

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks for watching!

After being cut off by the boat a second time the pilot, fearing for the safety of the two campers, returned them to the dock, the release says. The Morris man attempted to cut off the plane a third time, but the pilot managed to get airborne. Witnesses said the boat came so close to the plane that it nearly struck its floats as it took off.

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks for watching!

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks for watching!

The Morris man admitted to authorities that he had pulled in front of the floatplane to prevent its takeoff because he claimed it was illegal for such craft to land or take off from BantamLake, the release states. Floatplanes are not banned from the lake, authorities said.

The boater had to be physically subdued at the time of his arrest, according to the release. The man was released on bond and his arraignment is scheduled in Bantam on Aug. 28.